Swimsuit

The night had come and gone, and the desert was now a cool expanse under a blanket of stars. Lydia had tried to sleep, but the heat from the day still lingered in her muscles, making it hard to find comfort. She had tossed and turned, half-dreading the consequence she had agreed to, but also unable to deny the strange anticipation building in her.

When the first light of morning broke through the horizon, Lydia blinked groggily, her body still aching from the previous day. She tried to ignore the rising sun’s warmth, but there was no avoiding it. She knew what awaited her.